Key Definitions and Terms
While no one owns definitions, the definitions as they are constantly evolving over time, the
many of the definitions below are based on previous work developed by Mallon & Betts, (2005)
Terminology
Language is often a source of confusion and misinformation, and as such, it is
important that service providers have accurate definitions. Heterosexually oriented
practitioners are often unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the vernacular of the gay
and lesbian “culture.” It should be recognized that as with any subculture—particularly
that of oppressed groups—language is constantly changing. Usage may
vary with different generations, geographic areas of the country, socioeconomic
status, or cultural backgrounds. Which terms are acceptable and which are offensive
varies widely and is also culturally dependent.
Homosexual: The use of the word homosexual in describing individuals and same-sex
relationships may be inaccurate. When referring to people, as opposed to behavior,
homosexual is considered derogatory and places the emphasis on sex. The
preferred terms used by most are gay and lesbian, which stress cultural and social
matters more than sex. In addition, prior to 1972, the term homosexual was a
diagnostic term used to pathologize gay men and lesbians.
So that adoption and foster care social workers are clear about terminology
and language, the following describes terms that relate to lesbians and gay men,
and to sex, gender, and sexuality.
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
The English noun gender is derived from the Old French word genre, meaning
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“kind of thing.” It goes back to the Latin word genus (meaning “kind” or
“species”). Gender is often, but decreasingly, used as a synonym for sex, which
refers to the physical anatomical differences that are commonly used to differentiate
male from female.
Many people, among them social scientists, use sex to refer to the biological
division into male and female, and gender to refer to gender roles assigned to people
on the basis of their apparent sex and other associated factors. Society tends
to assign some social roles to males and others to females (as society perceives
their sex).
A person’s gender is usually assigned at birth. The “male” or “female” recorded
on the birth certificate can affect much of what happens to that child, socially,
for the rest of his or her life. Gender is social, cultural, psychological, and historical.
It is used to describe people and their roles in society, the way they dress,
and how they are meant to behave.
It is assumed by some that sex, gender, and sexuality naturally follow on
from each other, but different societies and cultures have had very different
notions of sex, gender, and sexuality and how people express them. It is perhaps
more helpful to consider “What is sexuality, and how do people in different
places and at different times understand their bodies and desires?” Sexuality is
usually defined as the expression of sexual desire.
Sexual Orientation
This is the commonly accepted term for the direction of a person’s sexual attraction,
emotional or physical attraction, and its expression. Examples of sexual orientation
are heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality. In a sense, sexual
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orientation is a social construct, and a relatively new one, most likely determined
by a combination of continually interacting sociocultural influences and biological
tendencies. Most cultures have a sexual object preference for the opposite sex.
For many years, the common assumption, shared by many scientists and
religious communities, was that the natural and normal human sexual orientation
is exclusively for the opposite sex (i.e., heterosexual). In 1976, the historian
Michel Foucault argued that homosexuality as a concept did not exist as such in
the 18th century, that people instead spoke of sodomy (which involved specific
sexual acts, regardless of the sex or sexuality of the people involved). Sexual studies
carried out during and after the 1950s led psychologists and doctors to recognize
homosexuality as a second exclusive orientation. Since then, similar
acceptance has grown for nonexclusive orientations, such as bisexuality.
Heterosexuality
This term relates to sexual attraction, both physical and emotional, which is primarily
directed toward people of the opposite gender.
Homosexuality
This term relates to sexual attraction, both physical and emotional, which is primarily
directed toward people of the same gender. The word homosexual translates literally as “of the
same sex,” being a hybrid of the Greek prefix homo- meaning
“same” (as distinguished from the Latin root homo meaning human) and the
Latin root sex meaning “sex.”
Although some early writers used the adjective homosexual to refer to any
single-gender context (such as the Roman Catholic clergy or an all-girls’ school),
today the term implies a sexual aspect. The term homosocial is now used to
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describe single-sex contexts that are not specifically sexual. Older terms for
homosexuality, such as homophilia and inversion (in which a gay individual would
be called a “homophile” or an “invert”) have fallen into disuse. The term homosexual
can be used as a noun or adjective to describe same-sex-oriented individuals
as well as their sexual attractions and behaviors.
It is recommend that the terms homosexual and homosexuality be
avoided—in particular, describing individuals as homosexual may be offensive,
partially because of the negative clinical association of the word, stemming from
its use in describing same-sex attraction as a pathological state, before homosexuality
was removed from lists of mental disorders. For example, the American
Psychiatric Association‘s 1968 list of mental disorders still regarded homosexuality
as confused or disturbed sexuality. In the United States in 1975, the Journal of
the American Medical Association was still publishing articles on possible treatments
for ego-dystonic homosexuality,* including hormonal therapy and aversion therapy.
It was not until the late 1980s that journals began to focus on research and
articles that were lesbian and gay affirming in their approach to treatment.
Bisexuality
This term refers to sexual attraction toward people of both genders. Someone who
identifies as bisexual is attracted to and may form sexual and affectionate relationships
with both men and women, though not necessarily at the same time. The term
may refer to a sociopolitical identity or to sexual behavior, or both. Most known
societies have included people who have exhibited some degree of bisexuality.
Although bisexuality is an identified sexual orientation, it is sometimes transitional
for those coming to terms with their lesbian or gay identity. Some people
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identify as bisexual before identifying as gay or lesbian, because bisexuality can
represent a mediating position between homosexual and heterosexual in the traditional
cultural system.
* Ego-dystonic homosexuality is a psychosexual disorder in which an individual has persistent
distress associated
with same-gender sexual orientation and is unable to initiate or maintain heterosexual
relationships, usually experiencing a strong need to change the behavior or, at least, to alleviate
the distress associated with the gay or lesbian sexual orientation.
Gay
In addition to meaning “merry,” “joyous,” or “glad,” gay also means homosexual.
Gay also refers to homosexually oriented ideas (e.g., literature or values). The
word gay has had a sexual meaning since at least the 19th century (and possibly
earlier; Chauncey, 1994). In Victorian England, female and male prostitutes were
called “gay” because they dressed gaily. Eventually, “gay boys” (male prostitutes)
became used as a term for any male homosexual. It has also been claimed that
gay was an acronym for “Good as You,” another popular etymology with its supposed
origin emanating from a street called Gay Street, in New York’s West
Village, a focal point of lesbian and gay culture. The term also seems, from documentary
evidence, to have existed in New York as a code word in the 1940s,
where the question, “Are you gay?” would denote more than it might have
seemed to outsiders (Chauncey, 1994).
Gay can be used to refer only to male homosexuals. Used inclusively, it refers
to homosexual men and women, and arguably to bisexuals. When used in the
phrase the gay community, it may also include transgender people and transsexuals,
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although this is also a subject of some debate, and these issues will not be
fully addressed in this book.
Gay originally was used purely as an adjective (“He is a gay man” or “He is
gay”). Gay is now also used as a collective noun (e.g., “Gays are opposed to that
policy”), but rarely as a singular noun (“He is a gay”). When used as an adjective
not describing a person who is part of the gay community (as many children and
youth are now popularizing in school settings, e.g., “That shirt is so gay”), the term
gay is purely pejorative and deeply offensive. The derogatory implication is that
the object (or person) in question is inferior, weak, effeminate, or just stupid.
Lesbian
A lesbian is a woman whose homosexual orientation is self-defined, affirmed, or
acknowledged as such. Lesbian also refers to female homosexually oriented (and can
refer to women-oriented) ideas, communities, or varieties of cultural expression.
The word lesbian originally referred to an inhabitant of the Greek island of
Lesbos. It came to have its current meaning because of the ancient Greek poet
Sappho, who lived on Lesbos; some of her poems concerned love between women.
Whether Sappho was a lesbian, in the modern meaning of the term, or simply a
poet who described lesbians, is open to question. Nevertheless, this association
with Sappho led to the term sapphism being used as another term for lesbianism.
Transgender
Transgender, is a term created by people with trans-histories to refer to trans-people, is now
generally considered an umbrella term encompassing many different identities. It is commonly
used to describe an individual who is seen as “gender-different.” Outside the transgender
communities, people identified as transgender are usually perceived through a dichotomous lens
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and are commonly described as transgressing gender norms, gender variant or gender deviant.
This traditional misreading is predicated a conception of transgender within a pathologically
oriented perspective framed in a language layered in heterosexist, sexist, bigenderist, and
transphobic context and meaning.
Transgender is often used as a euphemistic synonym for transsexual people.
One set of reasoning for this is that it removes the conceptual image of “sex” in
transsexual that implies transsexuality is sexually motivated, which it is not.
Transgender is also used to describe behavior or feelings that cannot be categorized
into other defined categories, for example, people living in a gender role
that is different from the one they were assigned at birth, but who do not wish to
undergo any or all of the available medical options, or people who do not wish
to identify themselves as transsexuals, either men or women, and consider that
they fall between genders or transcend gender. Outside the transgender communities, people
identified as transgender are usually perceived through a dichotomous lens and are commonly
described as transgressing gender norms, gender variant or gender deviant. This traditional
misreading is predicated a conception of transgender within a pathologically oriented perspective
framed in a language layered in heterosexist, sexist, bigenderist, and transphobic context and
meaning. By using the words “transgender” and/or “trans,” this text the authors look for a
common language, communities and purposes and are not seeking to erase any of the diverse
identities of those individuals who identify themselves and/or are seen as: androgyne, bigendered, butch queen, CD, crossdresser, drag king, drag queen, female-to-male, femme queen,
FTM, gender bender, gender blender, gender challenged, gender fucked, gender gifted, gender
non-conforming, gender-queer, male-to-female, MTF, new man, woman, non-op, non-operative
transexual, passing man, passing woman, phallic woman, post-op, post-operative transexual, pre598
op, pre-operative transexual, sex-change, she-male, stone butch, TG, third sex, trannie/tranny,
trannie-fag, trans, trans-butch, transexual/transsexual, transgender, transgenderist, transie, transman, trans-person, transexed, transexed-man, transexed-woman, transexual, transexual-man,
transexual-woman, transvestic-fetishist, transvestite, trans-woman, tryke, TS, two-spirit, and the
like.
Transvestite/Cross-Dresser
This is a person who, for any reason, wears the clothing of a gender other than
that to which they were assigned at birth. Cross-dressers may have no desire or
intention of adopting the behaviors or practices common to that other gender
and do not necessarily wish to undergo medical procedures to facilitate physical
changes. Contrary to common belief, most male-bodied cross-dressers prefer
female partners.
Bull Dyke, Fag, and Queer
These terms are sometimes used to refer negatively to lesbians and gay men. They
are equivalent to hate terms and epithets used against racial and ethnic minorities.
A political usage exists for words such as queer, dyke, or faggot by some gays
and lesbians who, in a reclamation process, redefine and use with pride words
formerly used as pejorative. Because these words still carry a negative connotation
in society, however, their positive usage is restricted to political lesbians and
gay men active in the reclamation struggle and as words used by in-group members
to define themselves.
Drag
The term drag queen originates in Polari, the language of gay men in England in the
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early part of the last century. Drag meant clothes, and was also theatre slang for a
woman’s costume worn by a male actor. A queen is an effeminate gay man. Drag is
a part of Western gay culture—drag involves wearing highly exaggerated and outrageous
costumes or imitating movie and music stars of the opposite sex. It is a
form of performing art practiced by drag queens and kings. Female-bodied people
who perform in usually exaggerated men’s clothes and personae are called drag
kings, though this term has a wider meaning than drag queen.
Drag kings should not just be seen as female equivalents of drag queens,
because the term covers a much wider field of gender performance and political
activism. Gender identity among drag kings is far more varied, too. Drag kings
are largely a phenomenon of lesbian culture; they have only recently begun to
gain the fame or focus that drag queens have known for years.
Heterosexism (or Heterocentrism or Heterosexualism)
This is the assumption that everyone or a particular person is heterosexual. It
does not necessarily imply hostility toward other sexual orientations (as does
homophobia), but is merely a failure to recognize their existence. Heterocentrism
is culturally, religiously, and socially sanctioned by most major institutions in
American culture, including the family.
Homophobia
This term is most frequently used to describe any sort of opposition to homosexual
behavior or the political causes associated with homosexuality, though this
opposition may more accurately be called “anti-gay bias.”
The term also describes a phobia triggered by an encounter (in oneself or
others) with same-sex physical attraction, love, and sexuality. The term was orig20
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Lesbian & Gay Foster and Adoptive Parents
inally described by George Weinberg (1973), the clinical psychologist who
coined the term, to mean a morbid and irrational fear of homosexuals.
Homo-ignorant
Homo-ignorant is a term developed to describe individuals with a very limited
knowledge about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals.
Coming Out
Coming out, a distinctively lesbian and gay phenomenon (see Cass, 1979, 1984;
Coleman, 1981; Troiden, 1979, 1989), is defined as “the developmental process
through which gay and lesbian people recognise their sexual orientation and
integrate this knowledge into their personal and social lives” (De Monteflores &
Schultz, 1978, p. 59). Coming out is the process of first recognizing and then
acknowledging nonheterosexual orientation in oneself, and then disclosing it to
others. Coming out often occurs in stages and is a nonlinear process. Coming out
can also be used to mean “disclosure,” as in “I just came out to my parents.”
Disclosure
The point at which a lesbian or gay man discloses his or her sexual orientation to
another person. It is not appropriate to use terms such as discovered, admitted,
revealed, found out, or declared, which are pejorative terms, suggesting judgment.
Being Out
This term is used to describe a person who is open about their sexual orientation to
friends, family, colleagues, and society. Not everyone who is “out” is out to all of
these groups; some people may be out to their family, but not to their colleagues.
Being Closeted or in the Closet
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These terms refer to someone who is not open about his or her sexual orientation.
This person, for his or her own personal reasons, chooses to hide his or her
sexuality from others.
The language in this publication is intended to be understandable and acceptable. “Same-sex”,
“gay”, “lesbian”, “heterosexual” “transsgender” and “bisexual” are used to describe sexuality
and partnerships.
SYMBOLS AND SITES
Some of this information was adapted from website The origin of Gay and Lesbian Symbols
downloaded from www.spade.net, downloaded 10/15/06.
Lambda: Is the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet. The Lambda was first chosen as a gay symbol
when it was adopted in 1970 by the New York Gay Activists Alliance. It became the symbol of
their growing movement of gay liberation.In 1974, the Lambda was subsequently adopted by the
International Gay Rights Congress held in Edinburgh, Scotland. As their symbol for lesbian and
gay rights, the Lambda has become internationally popular.
Pink Triangle: In Nazi Germany, homosexuals were forced to wear the pink triangle and were treated as
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the lowest status individuals by the Nazis. Gay men and lesbians have reclaimed the pink triangle and
wear it as a badge of honor and also as a symbol of militancy against institutionalized oppression
Black Triangle: The Black Triangle was used to identify "socially unacceptable" women,
according to the Nazis. Lesbians were included in this classification. Now, Lesbians have
reclaimed the Black Triangle as our symbol in defiance of repression and discrimination as Gay
men have reclaimed the Pink Triangle.
Intertwined Male Genetic Symbol: Identifies gay men.
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Intertwined Female Genetic symbol: Identifies lesbians
The Labrys, or double-bladed ax comes from the goddess Demeter (Artemis). It was originally
used in battle by Scythian Amazon warriors. The Amazons ruled with a dual-queen system, and
were known to be ferocious and merciless in battle, but just and fair once victorious.
Today, the labrys has become a symbol of lesbian and feminist strength and self-sufficiency.
Transgender symbol: The IFGE
(International
Foundation
for
Gender
Education) Logo, or Transgender
Symbol, is the widely recognized symbol
for or crossdressers, transvestites, transsexuals and transgenderists.
Freedom Rings, designed by David Spada with the Rainbow Flag in mind, are six colored
aluminum rings. They have come to symbolize independence and tolerance of others.
Freedom rings are frequently worn as necklaces, bracelets, rings, and key chains.
Recently, Freedom Triangles have emerged as a popular alternative to the rings, though the
meaning remains the same.
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The Rainbow Flag, created in 1978 for San Francisco's Gay Freedom Celebration by Gilbert
Baker, depicts not the shape of the rainbow, but its colors in horizontal stripes. The Rainbow
Flag has been adopted as the Gay and Lesbian flag. It represents the
diversity yet unity of Gays and Lesbians universally.
Stonewall: Is the site where, in 1969, gays and lesbians fought police for five days. This event marks
the Independence Day of gay and lesbian culture. While it is generally accepted that the Stonewall
Rebellion marks the start of the Gay and Lesbian Movement, two other liberation organizations
preceded this event—The Mattachine Society began in 1950 and The Daughters of Bilitis in 1955.
References
DeMonteflores, C. and Schultz, S. J. (1978). Coming out: Similarities and differences for lesbians and
gay men. Journal of Social Issues, 34(3), 59-72.
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Mallon, G. & Betts, B. (2005). Recruiting, assessing and retaining lesbian and gay foster and
adoptive families: A good practise guide for social workers. London: British Association of
Adoption and Foster Care.
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